Objective: Over 400 000 cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) were diagnosed in 2005 throughout the world, mainly in oral cavity and oropharynx. Alcohol and tobacco are the most important etiologic agents. Since 1983 it has been suggested that human papilloma virus (HPV) 16 might have a role in HNSCC carcinogenesis. Our objective was to determine HPV prevalence in patients with HNSCC.